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Kohima: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday said that he had asked all the legislators to reach out to different tribal hohos and civil societies in their respective districts; get their vision and decision, and make assessment on whether or not to go ahead with the election to the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) as directed by the Supreme Court.
He was speaking during the thanksgiving-cum-felicitation programme of three NDPP winning legislators from Kohima region namely Dr. Kekhrielhou Yhome, Salhoutuonuo Kruse and himself, at the party’s head office in the state capital.
Pointing out the possibility of deterioration in law and order situation in the state in the event of some people contesting the election and some not, Rio emphasised on the need to come to a consensus before conducting the ULB election.
He recalled the failed attempts in conducting election to municipal and town councils in the past, including the 2017 episode that cost two lives and properties damaged amid stiff opposition against the conduct of the ULB poll despite SC directive.
He informed the gathering that the apex court had issued two orders to the state government in 2022 over postponement of ULB election and that they resolved to start the necessary election process after a consultative meeting with all political parties, various tribal hohos, civil societies and leaders of non-governmental organisations on March 9 last year.
The CM went on to say that a notification was issued on March 9 to conduct the civic body election, as per the court directive, after a cabinet meeting on March 7 this month, just hours after the ministers took oath of office.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]In view of another notification the SC on March 14 not to disturb the election at any cost, he said the elected members discussed various issues related to ULB poll in the committee room after one the assembly sessions a couple of days ago.
In the meeting, he said, they have discussed whether they must review the Nagaland Municipal Act if need be, while stressing on the need to cooperate with the citizens before going ahead with the scheduled election.
“We couldn’t discuss the matter inside the Assembly hall because the direction to conduct the election came from the Supreme Court,” he said.
In order to hold the election peacefully and to prevent the situation from escalating like in the past, he reiterated the need to come to a consensus from all quarters.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]“We are the government mandated by the people. So, accordingly, we will reach out to the court presenting them the issues of our people if all come to terms whether or not to conduct the poll,” Rio said while reminding that matters like property tax mentioned in the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001, have been amended.
Meanwhile, he opined that a ‘payable tax’ can be collected according to their economy which can in turn be ulitised for developmental activities like road repairing, beautification of their respective wards, adding that in doing so, they can receive grants from the Central government.
“We don’t get the grants we deserve because we don’t conduct municipal and urban local bodies elections,” he said.
He observed that people in the state don’t obstruct women to enjoy their rights on various fronts while paying tax is not new to the Nagas, citing how village councils have been collecting household tax as per their tradition while there were funds meant for women and youth even through VDB welfare funds allocated for people in the rural areas.
The chief minister felt the need to relax their land laws in order to encourage investors to set up commercial activities in the state so that the people can generate income.
“If we continue to emphasise on the old ways of living, we won’t move forward to be at par with others in this competitive world,” he said. “We can’t live in isolation.”
‘If people resort to anti-establishments or things like that by opposing all the time, the society will not progress but move from bad to worse,’ he added.
Meanwhile, Rio said that he had approached the ruling BJP leaders at the Centre, informing them of the opposition-less government once again in the state as various political parties have submitted their letters of support.
The CM affirmed that questions could be allowed to be put up in the state Assembly by members while they could hold debates accordingly in the House.
Rio also reminded the party workers to relay various government plans and programmes, policies and schemes meant to benefit the citizens.
He expressed happiness over NDPP coming a long way since it was floated and also creating history by electing two women legislators -- Salhoutuonuo Kruse and Hekani Jakhalu -- for the first time in Nagaland.
When asked if certain sentences and words in some portions of the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001, like the case of property tax, will be replaced by the word “deleted,” Rio replied that “if everything is omitted, nothing can be deleted”.
Former legislators Medo Yhokha and Dr. Neikiesalie Kire, who lost the recent Assembly election from the region, were also acknowledged during the programme. The former legislators were asked to continue guiding the party, as party workers look up to their leadership.